'Gimilbanchul' Trump Denies 37 Charges in Federal Court... Pleads Not Guilty

Donald Trump, the former U.S. president who became the first current or former president to be indicted by federal prosecutors, appeared at the Miami Federal Court in Florida on the 13th (local time) and fully denied all 37 charges, including illegal removal of classified documents. Before appearing in court, he reiterated his stance calling it a "witch hunt," saying, "Today is the saddest day in our nation's history." He is scheduled to hold a press conference at a golf club in New Jersey that evening to announce his official position.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to local media such as The New York Times (NYT), former President Trump denied the charges through his lawyer Todd Blanche during the arraignment procedure held at the Miami Federal Court in Florida around 3 p.m. The arraignment procedure is when the court informs the defendant of the charges and confirms whether they admit or deny the allegations. With Trump pleading not guilty, the trial process is now set to proceed in earnest. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who investigated the case, was also present at the hearing.

Another of Trump's attorneys, Alina Habba, told reporters outside the court, "Today is not about the challenging Trump, the Republican Party, or next year's presidential election," adding, "It is about destroying the principles of America that have divided this country for so long." She criticized the indictment as something "only seen in authoritarian regimes."

Former President Trump also posted on his social media platform Truth Social just before arriving at the court, saying, "On my way to court. Witch hunt!!! MAGA." He emphasized, "One of the saddest days in our nation's history" and "We are living in a declining country." In other posts, he claimed "witch hunt," "election interference," and "rigged election." The day he appeared in court was also one day before his 77th birthday.

Earlier, on the 9th, the U.S. federal prosecutors indicted former President Trump on 37 counts related to the illegal removal of national classified documents to his residence upon leaving office. This is the first time a former president has been indicted by U.S. federal prosecutors. Specifically, the charges include 31 counts of willfully retaining national defense information and 6 counts related to obstruction of justice. According to the unsealed indictment, the leaked classified documents included sensitive nuclear programs, detailed Pentagon government information, and battle plans addressing potential vulnerabilities to military attacks. The NYT reported, citing prosecutors, that Trump’s team stored these documents in boxes at Mar-a-Lago resort, private clubs, and even bathrooms, often in a careless manner.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

This is the second time former President Trump has appeared in court, following his April appearance at the Manhattan court in New York related to allegations of hush money payments concerning sexual misconduct. At that time, Trump also fully denied the charges against him. As with that occasion, the NYT reported that procedures such as taking a mugshot were waived out of respect for the former president.

Local media have speculated that this indictment may not be the last before the 2024 presidential election. Trump is already under investigation for several other matters besides the unauthorized removal of White House classified materials. Notably, allegations that Trump pressured the Georgia Secretary of State to overturn the 2020 election results are considered serious enough to potentially result in prison time. An announcement on whether he will be indicted in this case is expected within the year. Another major legal risk for Trump is the allegation that he incited and effectively orchestrated the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

On the day of the arraignment, former President Trump arrived at the Miami Federal Court under the protection of Secret Service (SS) agents. The vehicle carrying Trump entered the court through an underground garage. Major local broadcasters such as ABC, NBC, and CBS suspended their afternoon programming to provide live special coverage of the event. Photography and video recording were prohibited inside the court, so Trump’s appearance was not publicly shown afterward. The NYT described the atmosphere, noting that Trump was seated with his arms crossed, wearing a black suit and red tie, alongside his legal team. Supporters and anti-Trump protesters gathered near the court, but no significant physical clashes occurred due to heavy police security.

After appearing in court, former President Trump planned to return to New Jersey to announce his official position and plead not guilty. He continues to repeat his claims of a "witch hunt" and "political persecution."

Before appearing in court, he also asked his supporters for campaign donations to help with next year’s presidential campaign. According to The Washington Post (WP), Trump sent an email titled "My last email before the arraignment," asking, "Please pray for America today," and stating, "Our justice system is dead. The Biden Department of Justice will ask my biggest rival (me) at the Miami Federal Court around 3 p.m. today whether I admit to the charges, even though I have committed no crime," appealing for support.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.